A man hailed for saving lives during the deadly Bondi Beach shooting has received more than A$2.5 million in public donations, after tens of thousands of people contributed to an online fundraiser.
Ahmed al Ahmed intervened during the attack by charging at one of the gunmen from behind and wrestling the weapon from his hands. He had taken cover behind parked cars before making the split-second decision that witnesses say prevented further bloodshed.
During the confrontation, Ahmed suffered gunshot wounds, allegedly fired by a second attacker. Doctors later performed surgery, and he continues to recover in the hospital.
On Friday, social media influencer Zachery Dereniowski presented Ahmed with an oversized cheque at his hospital bed at St George’s Hospital. Dereniowski helped organise the GoFundMe campaign, which drew donations from more than 43,000 people worldwide.
🇦🇺 HERO WHO STOPPED BONDI TERRORIST GETS $2.5M IN DONATIONS: "GOD PROTECT AUSTRALIA, BEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD"
Ahmed al-Ahmed didn’t just run toward a shooter, he tackled him and took his gun.
While everyone else was running for their lives, he ran straight into it.
He was… pic.twitter.com/TIWqzs8hWM
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) December 18, 2025Among the contributors was billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman, who donated A$99,999 and shared the fundraiser on social media. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the New South Wales Premier also visited Ahmed in the hospital to commend his bravery.
Video footage from the presentation shows Ahmed asking in disbelief, “I deserve it?” Dereniowski replied, “Every penny.”
Read: Australians Raise Nearly $1 Million for Bondi Beach Hero Ahmed al Ahmed
Speaking from his hospital bed, Ahmed urged unity and compassion. He said people must stand together, protect one another, and focus on saving lives. He explained that he acted instinctively because families, children, and teenagers were enjoying a peaceful celebration and deserved to be safe.
Bondi hero Ahmed Al Ahmed has been awarded a cheque for more than $2.5 million in recognition of his bravery during the shooting that shocked the world. pic.twitter.com/tFpTuv4d2C
— The Project (@theprojecttv) December 19, 2025Calling Australia the best country in the world, Ahmed said violence should never become something people accept or ignore. He did not say how he plans to use the donated funds.
Ahmed, 43, moved to Australia nearly 20 years ago after leaving Idlib province in northwest Syria in search of work and stability. He now owns a small tobacco store and is a father of two.
The Bondi Beach attack claimed 15 lives and injured dozens more during Hanukkah celebrations. Authorities allege that a 50-year-old man and his 24-year-old son carried out the shooting. Police shot and killed the older suspect at the scene, while the younger man remains critically injured.
